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Riffles        

Volume 33 June 2003 Issue 6

President’s Beat Meeting Notice Ramapo River Day Reading the newspaper every day is an Saturday June 14, 2003 enlightening experience, however much When: June 11 at 7:30 PM You will probably get this edition of of the enlightenment is upsetting. The Where: American Legion Hall environment is one of our main concerns Riffles just days before the June 14th as fishermen because when the air, land, 33 West Passaic Street Ramapo River Day event. and water are degraded the fishing de- Rochelle Park, New Jersey Thanks to all who have already volun- clines. Unfortunately pollution is not the teered to help. We're almost ready but only enemy of the environment. Because June 11th we still need a few hands to help set up man is at the top of the food chain he is at 8:30 AM and to clean up at 1:30 PM. accountable for the loss of open space, Glenn & Anderea Even if you can help for just a few hours and responsible for the diminishing of a Van Benschoten call Rich Malizia [973 -427 -6140 or 973 - variety of species of fish and animals. He Lake Fishing with a Fly Rod 304 -0789 at work] or e -mail to [email protected] or see Rich at the is also a wastrel of water, the one thing th we cannot live without. June 11 membership meeting This Mark Your Calendars! truly is a rewarding experience. Recent articles I have read deal with the Rich Malizia fact that the oceans are being decimated. A recent study going back many years Future Guest Speakers has compared fish size, quantity caught, More Water Problems and reproduction rates to present times. July 9th Recently the Borough of Ramsey re- It revealed that the fish are generally Dick Despommie quested permission to drill 2 wells that have the potential to destroy the smaller, available in smaller quantities Songs of the River and cannot reproduce as fast as they are we have being caught. The efficiency of the mod- August 13th worked so hard ern commercial fisherman is phenome- Mickey Goshen to protect. nal. If unchecked, more species of fish Ramsey wants to Fishing N.J. Streams will become extinct. The study points pump up to 2 mil- out that the ramifications of depleted September 10th lion gallons of water fish stocks could cause severe problems Mark Sadatti every day during for many countries that rely on the the months of June, oceans as a food supplier. It is recom- Saltwater July and August mended that areas of the oceans be put from wells in the off limits for commercial fishing or en- October 8th Ramapo River Reservation - one next to force strict limits on the numbers of fish John Roetman Scarlet Oak Pond and the second in the being harvested. Fly Fishing either wetlands just South of the pond. Because the wells will be in the County Evidence that regulations can improve New Zealand or Chile Park the Bergen County Freeholders will fish numbers is documented by the tre- All programs have a slide show. determine if they will be allowed. A mendous resurgence of the striped bass. hearing is planned for some time in June. Very strict regulations for several years I will provide more details when they are allowed them to proliferate. With the Quote of the Month available but, we should be prepared to lifting of the ban on stripers and the " Skill at the riverside, or at the fight this one both with letters and by enforcement of size limits, the striper will our presence at the hearing. continue to be available. On the other fly-table never came, nor ever will come to us by any road The first question should be why the hand I read an article predicting that Bergen County Freeholders are even will be extinct by 2005. than that of practice. " George M. Kelson entertaining this proposal. More infor- (Continued on page 2) The Fly (1895) mation will follow. Rich Malizia Volume 33 Riffles Page 2     (Continued from page 1) President’s Beat Special Raffle   It’s too bad that we don’t have advocates as powerful and concerned about the EJTU is conducting a special fund rais- Board of Directors environment and open spaces as Presi- ing raffle starting this month. There will dent Theodore Roosevelt was. If only a be only one grand prize with an esti- President mated value of $700. The prize is a one Bill Borowski few of our politicians would follow his lead we wouldn’t have to worry about of kind display of flies tied by Bill Logan 1st Vice -President/Treasurer and framed by Ted Patlen. It is magnifi- Bruce Seiden the world our children and grandchil- dren will inherit. cent and will be a valuable addition to 2nd Vice -President any collection of fly tier art. The piece Bob Ribar Theodore Roosevelt was a far - sighted consists of a striking photograph of Bill Recording Secretary individual and realized that land must be Logan surrounded by fifteen of his flies Bill Canning set aside to protect animal life. One hun- and a signature card. dred years ago he signed an executive Membership Secretary Bill Logan is a world -renowned fly tier of Ed Sikorski order creating Pelican Island Reservation a federal preserve. This action led to the ultra realistic flies and has done presenta- Conservation Chairman development and establishment of the tions here in the US from coast to coast. Herman Drenth National Wildlife Refuge System, which His flies have been exhibited in museums Education Director totals nearly 95 million acres. and art galleries, and the ultra realistic Doug Penna flies have sold for as much as $4000 It is important that we as a nation be- each. Bill also writes articles for maga- Trips/Pequest Programs have in a manner that will insure the Bob Novak zines here in the US, and Japan. And he preservation of wildlife and open spaces. has generously Speakers We must all have the courage to work contributed a John Roetman and follow Roosevelt’s lead. Trout number of Merchandise Unlimited members are doing their best, “fishing” flies Basil Santamaria but we must make the politicians under- to be used to Riffles Editors stand the importance of Theodore Roo- raise money Gary Heger Ray Cappock sevelt’s following statement: “The nation for EJTU. [email protected] / [email protected] behaves well if it treats resources as assets which it must turn over to the next gen- Ted Patlen is Points also a famous George Petersen eration increased and not impaired in value.” fly tier known Dinner throughout Dave & Barbara Wedlick Bill Borowski the USA and Shows Europe. Ted Basil Santamaria Stray Hooks is highly rec- Publicity ognized for Larry Hill While fishing the Ramapo last spring I his superb framing techniques. For our grand prize Ted created an oak frame Directors at Large noticed unusual rises under an overhang- with an aesthetic quintuple mat. Karen Canning Tom Yuille ing bush across the stream. After unsuc- Richard Hudak cessfully attempting casts to the area of The raffle is limited to 100 tickets and the rises, I decided to get close and see Founding President the price per ticket is $10. The drawing Don Ecker what the rises were and why they were will be held at our October meeting. continuing. Bill Borowski How to contact us: I found a place to cross and when I Website http://www.ejtu.org neared the bush I saw a baby duckling Mailing Address: East Jersey Chapter, hooked in the bill by a spinning lure and Landlocked Salmon Box 366 HoHoKus, NJ 07423 -0366 bouncing up and down just trying to Hotline: (201) 445 -3902 (24 hrs.) keep his head above water. He had Trip For Membership Information call Ed Sikorski at: probably seen the shiny lure caught on 201 -337 -6396 or email to: [email protected] the bush, bit it and was hooked. September 13 to 20 For Information on trips and other Chapter The chapter has made arrangements to Activities call our hotline: (201) 445 -3902 (24 hrs.) I picked him up, freed him from the For East Jersey and National Trout Unlimited informa- once again take a trip to Maine, fishing tion, visit our website at http://www.tu.org. Go to chap- hook, enjoyed holding him in my hand for Landlocked Salmon and Brook ter number 091 and you will get the latest information for a moment and then released him. Trout. We reserved a cottage at Prays about our chapter. Riffles is your publication. We invite Out of nowhere came mama duck to get and encourage every member to contribute articles, tips, Camps for six guests. The cost per per- etc., relating to trout or trout fishing in general. Email to: the duckling and led him away, quacking son for the week’s lodging is $300.00, [email protected] attention Riffles. Each her gratitude as she lead the baby down- piece of material submitted earns you 10 points towards plus Maine fishing license, and one your next goal in the points program. stream! night stay in Freeport. For more infor- Moral: watch for hanging lures and dis- mation please call Elmer Hopper (973) Monthly General Member Meeting: The East Jersey Chapter of Trout Unlimited meets on the second Wednesday of each carded line and remove them if at all 256 -1368 or John Roetman (201) 447 - month at 7:30PM. Location: The American Legion Hall, 33 West Passaic Street, Rochelle Park, NJ. 07662. possible. 1810. Monthly Board Meeting: The East Jersey Chapter of Trout Unlimited Board Members meet on the last Thursday of each Herb Janusee month at 7:30PM. Location: The Bergen County Community Center, 327 East Ridgewood Ave., Paramus, NJ 07652. Volume 33 Riffles Page 3

Twelve Thousand Response to Ramapo, I used to fish for trout only in the Catskills where they stock just twice Thank You's The Moral Fly Fisher a year. Up there, the unregulated pools I was quite surprised at the April mem- get cleaned out in a matter of days. But I am one of those fly fishermen who bership meeting when points chairman in the catch -and -release sections of the practices catch -and -release and I always George Peterson announced that I had Willowemoc and the Beaverkill, the thought that it was the right thing to do earned 12,000 points, and asked me to trout season never ends - not even in until I read that recent article in Riffles winter. And you guessed it - the diehard about The "Moral" fly fisher. (May put -and -take fishermen are furious be- 2003 Issue). According to the author, it cause they cannot take trout at any time seems that by releasing all my trout I am from the catch -and -release pools. a "zealot, morally superior, ethically su- perior, intellectually dishonest, hypocriti- Don’t get me wrong. I do not look down cal, sanctimonious, etc." By golly, it was my nose at put -and -take fishermen here like a blizzard of nasty names straight out in New Jersey. I am one of their best of a thesaurus. friends. Every time I release a fish, that is one more they can take home. But But the line that bowled me over was there is one thing that does bother me, that too many fly fishermen like me are and that is the outlaw fishermen de- come forward. George and our Presi- suffering from a "manifest destiny, a scribed in this e -mail I got the other day dent, Bill Borowski, then presented me spiritual calling if you will, to practice from Herman Drenth: with a beautiful brook trout carving catch -and -release and enforce it upon along with a fleece chapter jacket. others." A manifest destiny? That is "Chuck Fletcher, the conservation officer You might ask how a member earns going too far, and I am obliged to fire continues to patrol the Ramapo and caught 12,000 points. back more people catching over the limit, includ- In my case it all started thirty years ago The author was quoting a "brilliant arti- ing one at Britts Tackle Shop area who when I took a beginner’s course cle" written by a saltwater fishing writer. caught 6, put them in his car and came at the Ramsey Outdoor Store in Pa- So I will counter with another brilliant back and caught more! " ramus. My instructor was Andy Gen- article that was written by Don Ecker, Whether we practice catch -and release or naro who suggested that I check out this EJTU founder, in The Record. It was put -and take, I think we all can feel new organization called Trout Unlim- about a joint study conducted by Fish & "morally superior" to folks like that. ited. At that time EJTU meetings were Game and a bass fishermen’s club on the Rusty Bodkin held at the Rustic Lodge in Elmwood Delaware River. The goal of the study Park, the same lodge where we now have was to learn whether black bass migrated Fly of the Month our annual dinner. up and down the Delaware. To find I began to earn ten points at each out, they tagged a bunch of bass in one June - Things are getting hot, and I monthly membership meeting by setting particular bay and the bass club kept a don’t mean the weather. The hatches we up and taking down the chairs. The rest record of each time they caught and re- dreamed of all winter are in full swing. is history. leased one of them. The Mayflies both large and small have I would like to thank the board and got our attention. March Browns, Green members of EJTU and Andy Gennaro The conclusion of the study was that all Drakes, Sulfurs, & for this great award and I look forward the bass stuck close to home, but the real Olives have all been to serving in our chapter for another surprise was the fact that the tagged bass getting the trout's thirty years and earning 24,000 points. were caught and released an average of attention as well. three times. One bass, in particular, was John Roetman The next time you caught and released five times! Think come home from a about it for a while, because whether it is days fishing and sit Get Riffles Faster bass or trout, that is what catch -and - down at your vise to refill your fly box, release is all about. The more fish you If you would like to receive your copy of how about tying a dozen extra for your release, the more fish are available to Riffles earlier, you now can. chapter. Sign up to receive your copy of Riffles catch. And as Lee Wulff used to say, "a trout is too valuable to catch only once." Tie up one of these, or any other pattern, via email and get it days before the snail and turn them in at the next meeting. mail version is delivered. Not only will The article in Riffles also said that 30% You will receive 10 points and an entry you receive Riffles earlier, you will help of all released trout will die anyway, and into the monthly drawing for every the chapter save money on postage. Just it cites as an example a fly fisherman dozen flies you turn in. More impor- send an email to: [email protected] manhandling a trout in a struggle to tantly, you will be helping your chapter with “Subscribe – Riffles” in the subject. remove a #18 nymph from its mouth. raise funds for our various projects. Be sure to include your full name and if That’s not a problem for those of us who The chapter's fly inventory is still quite possible your TU membership number. bend down our barbs or use barbless lean, and we need your help in getting it You will receive a sample copy immedi- hooks. That way we can gently release a rebuilt. If you can’t make the meeting, ately with instructions on how to open trout without even taking it from the mail your flies to the chapter P.O. Box it. Give it a try – you can always cancel water or getting our hands smelly. or turn them in to any director. if you don’t like it! Until EJTU began improving the Bruce Seiden Bruce Seiden Volume 33 Riffles Page 4 Ramapo Ramblin’ the DEP. When they came to retrieve it they brought 3 fire engines, many police Another Reason to It's hard to believe that by the time you cars and blocked off Glen Gray Road for read this the stocking season will be over Fish Barbless over an hour! About 5 years ago when and will be at its peak! I was having a decent day fishing on Fri- we reported another barrel, it was re- We had a real good season with over day, November 9, having caught seven trieved with no incident. Things have 3000 trout being stocked by our mem- nice trout including some of the State's changed since 9/11. bers. nine to eleven inchers and a couple of our There is a boat launch open at Potash stocked browns in the twelve to thirteen This year we expanded our stocking to Lake off Colfax Avenue in Oakland. Go inch class. include the section above the Halifax past Britts on West Oakland Avenue and Near the end of the afternoon I was fishing Road Bridge, and I estimate that about after the bridge go left; this is Colfax in the run just below Mansion pool when I 400 trout were bucket stocked from the Avenue. A short finally hooked a much better trout, a rain- riffle above the bridge to way past the rail- bow in the fourteen inch range. While about 300 feet past the road crossing you playing the fish and trying to bring him in pond section. Walt will see the park- as quickly as possible I managed to get him Nahadil led the drive to ing area. The into the shallow edge on three occasions do this section with the launch is just a but each time I thought he was ready for help of Fred Lauffer. bank cutout at this release he would swim back into the faster The section down- time, but you can water. On the fourth attempt I managed stream at Britts’ Tackle travel to Pompton to get him in again and, thinking he was Shop was supervised by Lakes from there. tired I elected not to use the net but to Rick Hudak or by Walt I think there is a reach down, hold the leader, and remove Nahadil when Rich was the fly with my hemostats. limit on the engine away. I always fish with a dropper and tail fly, so horsepower and Ed Sikorski was always I reached down and held the tail fly leader speed so check with the police for rules, there, doing his thing, getting permission in my left hand while I tried to remove the etc. from Mr. Baxter to launch his boat from fly with my right hand. Little did I know In July or August the state will do an his property, supervising the launching that the trout still had enough energy left electric shock of the Ramapo to check on of both boats and using his boat to stock to make another run. When he did so the the number of trout surviving. This is the upstream section. Thanks to Bruce dropper fly ended up embedded in the another step toward having it made into Seiden for letting us use his boat to stock palm of my left hand and the short leader a conservation stretch! the section below the Glen Gray Bridge broke off at the knot. The rainbow entered Herm Drenth and to George Petersen for using his back into the fast water, the remainder of truck every week to carry the fish up- my knot parted, and the trout and my tail stream from Glen Gray Bridge. Thanks WMA 3 fly went on their merry way! to Cindy for letting us keep the boat on For several years EJTU has maintained a Because I have all of my barbs pinched it her property. presence as a stakeholder in the Public was much easier to remove the hook my- To Bob Papson we are grateful for his Advisory Committee for Watershed self instead of going to the doctor. assistance and to Mark and the guys on Management Area 3 which includes the Rich Hudak the stocking truck, thanks. Last but not Ramapo, Pompton, Wanaque and Pe- least, I want to give a special tip of the quannock Rivers. After a very slow start, Ten Dollars - Free! hat to the members who came week after WMA 3 is trying to identify sensitive Do you know how to give $5.00 to the chap- week to make the stocking such a suc- areas within the watershed for protection ter without any cost to you? Instead of pay- cess! I'm not going to name you as I am or remediation. ing your T.U. dues directly to the national sure that I would miss someone, how- If you know of an area that fits this de- office, pay it through the EJTU chapter and ever, your names were listed each week the chapter will get $5.00! scription WMA 3 is looking for your You can also save the EJTU chapter about and you can be proud of a job well input. Contact me or Herman Drenth $5.00 a year by receiving Riffles via email. As done!! and we will forward your concerns and a bonus the pictures will be in color! Contact Chuck Fletcher, the new conservation suggestion to the PAC. Bruce Seiden at [email protected] officer who patrols Bergen, Passaic and Rich Malizia Herm Drenth part of Morris County, attended the First Class May membership meeting. He has been Postage Paid Trout Unlimited Permit paying particular attention to the Ramapo on Thursdays and has caught East Jersey Chapter 76 Box 366 Fair Lawn NJ some lawbreakers. The fine is $40 for the 07410 first trout over the limit and $20 for each HoHoKus, NJ 07423-0366 trout thereafter plus court cost, usually about $100. Call him at 908 -735 -8240. Ed Sikorski spotted a 55 gallon barrel caught in the bushes while stocking above Glen Gray Bridge. This was re- ported to Chuck Fletcher who contacted

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